Help choosing a good road bike for £800

[frayBentos59]

Hartley, I bought the roubaix elite and agree with Paul Secteur. It is so comfortable. I decided I wanted to get a second bike to preserve the life of my roubaix and the two choices you've presented are the two I'm toying with. The LBS (best in the UK!! Quinn's Cycles Liverpool!!) recommended the secteur as it's very similar to the roubaix plus it will provide the perfect blend of speed and comfort especially if you're doing London to Paris. I absolutely love my roubaix, if I can get anywhere near the comfort I get from the secteur I'll be stupidly happy. Can't go wrong with a Spesh!

 

[Hartley Hare]

Thank you all for your suggestions and recommendations, theve been really helpful.
One of my Daughters friends Dad, has a number of road bikes and he is going to let me have a go on them (cant wait) and I am going to try out the Cube Peloton Race 2012, Specialized Secteur Elite/Comp 2012, Giant Defy 1 and have a proper ride on the Specialized Allez Elite 2012.
I will let you know how I get on.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Seems that its common for people to either start with a roubaix as their good bike, then get the secteur for commuting and general ride. Or start with the secteur, like it alot and then go for the roubaix as their best bike (Like what I done).

Either way, you end up with 2 bikes with the same geometry that you can flip between without getting aches and pains beacause you are already used to it. Some people might say say they want something racier for best, I say I dont want sore wrist, shoulders and neck. You pays your money and you makes your choice.

 

[Hartley Hare]

Seems that its common for people to either start with a roubaix as their good bike, then get the secteur for commuting and general ride. Or start with the secteur, like it alot and then go for the roubaix as their best bike (Like what I done).

Either way, you end up with 2 bikes with the same geometry that you can flip between without getting aches and pains beacause you are already used to it. Some people might say say they want something racier for best, I say I dont want sore wrist, shoulders and neck. You pays your money and you makes your choice.

The Roubix looks great, although £1600, is a bit to much for me at the moment, maybe next year, by then they will all look the same and my better half would'nt notice the differance..........

 

[PaulSecteur]

by then they will all look the same and my better half would'nt notice the differance..........

I like your thinking!

 

[frayBentos59]

Specialized!!! You know you want to!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.